It's Got a Beat, Mr. Jones

Lead Guitar and Lead Singer

Bobby was still crying. Mary had retreated. Bobby was holding Odette.
"Damn shame wasn't it," A voice said from behind Mary and Bobby.
Bobby looked up. He was ready to shout at the speaker. Who was he to disrupt the sacred silence of the graveyard?
"You really look different, Mary... Bobby," A dark haired man said.
Mary and Bobby stared at the man. Who was he?
"Ah, you don't recognize me," The man said laughing slightly. "It's me, Eddie."
Mary stared at him. "No way," She said surprised.
Eddie smiled. "It's me," He said.
"What are you doing here?" Mary asked walking closer to him.
"John called me. He needed me to drive him out of here," Eddie said.
Bobby stared at Eddie. "You have a goatee," Bobby said slowly. He wasn't crying anymore.
Eddie ran his hand over his chin and laughed. "Yeah, it was the first of the bad decisions I made," He said. "I like it, the ladies like it, and that's all that matters."
Mary smiled. Odette reached for Bobby's face.
"And who's this?" Eddie asked walking towards Bobby and kneeling down beside him.
"It's my daughter, Odette," Bobby replied.
Eddie glanced over at Mary then back at Bobby. "Yeah, she's mine and hers," Bobby said.
"Are you, like, um... married then?" Eddie asked.
"Yeah," Mary said smiling.
"Whoa, I have been out I circulation..." Eddie said shaking his head. He scratched his goatee. "So, what's happened since the band split up?"
"Nothing really, I went home, then I left home. I travelled a lot," Bobby said.
"After the band broke up I stayed with Jeff for a long time, but at one point I realized it wasn't worth it. I got a job for a few years, but I couldn't do it and started home then I met Bobby again," Mary said. "Then we travelled around together. Then we got married. So, what's been up with you?"
Eddie laughed. "Well, I'm still a musician," He said. "For awhile I was in a rut and couldn't make a dollar, but recently I found this band that is perfect for me, and we're doing rather well. Well enough for a new sports car and a few new suits."
Bobby stared at him. "That much money for a guitarist?" He asked.
"Lead guitar and lead singer," Eddie said smiling.
Mary's mouth hung open. "Really?" She asked.
Eddie nodded. He was smiling smugly. He was very proud of his accomplishments.
As they had been talking clouds had began to form over them. Mary felt a raindrop hit her nose. Eddie felt one too.
"We should probably be going," Mary said.
Bobby nodded. Eddie smiled at them. "Please let me treat you two to lunch," He said.
Mary looked over at Bobby. Bobby shrugged. "Sure," He said.
Eddie smiled again. This time it was bigger. He reached out his hand to help Bobby stand up. Bobby accepted his help then they walked out of the cemetery.
John was sitting on the bench by Eddie's car. Eddie smiled as he walked up. A rain drop hit John on the nose. Eddie stopped by his car and pulled out an umbrella. He opened it and quickly walked to John. He held it over John and smiled.
"We're going to lunch," Eddie said.
John looked over at Bobby. He shrugged and stuck close to Eddie. Eddie handed John the umbrella.
"I would like to hold Odette," Eddie said to Bobby.
Bobby stared for a moment. He passed Eddie his daughter. Eddie smiled down at the baby. "She's such a pretty baby," Eddie said. "I wish I had children, but I haven't really had money for them. And now that I have the money I don't have the time."
"Don't you have a girl?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, a few, but none of them are really serious. They're just not right, you dig?" Eddie said.
Bobby nodded. Mary looked over at Eddie. "Why don't you try finding a girl for something besides looks?" She asked.
Eddie laughed. "Looks are important too," He said. "I don't want to spend my life with someone I don't find physically attractive."
Bobby nodded in agreement. Mary looked over at Bobby in surprise. "Would you not've married me if I wasn't pretty?" She asked.
"Hey, I was blitzed when I got you pregnant, it didn't matter at that point," Bobby shrugged.
Mary hit Bobby's arm, and he laughed slightly then kissed her on the cheek. Eddie smiled. "God, forgot how much I love you two," He said. "I wish you would visit me sometimes. Jeff never does."
"How are we supposed to visit you if we don't know where you live?" Bobby asked rolling his eyes.
"I'll write my address down and give it to you once we get to a decent restaurant," Eddie said. "Only the best for my dear friends."
Bobby shook his head slightly. "Why weren't you like this when we toured together?" He asked.
"You had all the money, remember?" Eddie said shaking his head.
Bobby nodded his head. "I forgot that information..." He said.
"Kids do that to you," Eddie said smiling and showing his old wit and humor.
Mary laughed. Eddie looked at her. "I made a beautiful lady laugh. I think that's the greatest achievement of the day," Eddie said.
"That's my wife you're talkin' about," Bobby said jokingly.
"Are you saying your wife isn't beautiful?" Eddie asked in fake shock. "Babe, if that's how he feels maybe you should leave him and marry me instead."
"I'll think about it," Mary said smiling.
John looked up at Eddie. John was still holding the umbrella. Eddie looked down at him.
"You're awfully quiet," Eddie said putting his arm over John's shoulder.
John looked up at Eddie. John shrugged.
"Ya know when I make a comment about you being quiet you're supposed to join in on the conversation or somethin'," Eddie said. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know," John said looking up at the buildings.
Eddie smiled and squeezed John's shoulder then kissed him on the top of his head. John gave Eddie a dirty look.
"Don't treat me like a kid," John said.
Eddie smiled. "I'll treat you like a kid if I want. You're the closest thing I got to a son," He said.
John mumbled something that Eddie couldn't understand.
"Whenever he's annoyed he mumbles in German like his mother would," Eddie said.
"Norwegian," John corrected him.
Eddie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever," He said waving his hand.
Mary smiled at John. "You speak Norwegian?" She asked.
"It's my first language," John said quietly. "My mother taught to me while she taught me English. I spoke it before I learned English fully."
Mary looked over at Bobby. "Don't teach Odette Italian before English," She said.
Bobby shrugged. "I don't like speakin' Italian that much anyways," He said. He emphasized the I in Italian as a joke. "That was my father's thing."
Mary laughed.
"Mi piace parlare italiano," Eddie said smiling. (I like speaking Italian.)
Bobby frowned. "Non mi piace," Bobby said back. (I don't like it.)
Mary frowned at Eddie and Bobby. "Don't do that," She said.
Bobby laughed. "It always seemed like me and Eddie were the only Italians in Texas," He said.
"That's the only reason we became friends after you destroyed my jaw," Eddie said laughing.
Bobby smiled at Eddie. "Us Italians have to stick together," He said.
"Speakin' of Italian," John said pointing at a restaurant.
Eddie smiled. "Ah, my old stomping grounds," He said. "I haven't been here in awhile. Let's go in."
Mary smiled. "This'll be fine," She said.
Eddie looked down at his watch.
It was one forty five.